Welcome to our inspiring blog series, Beyond the Lens, where we delve into the inspiring journeys of award-winning professional photographers who have not only mastered their craft but have also ventured into the world of professional printing. These talented individuals have transcended the realm of simply capturing moments to investing in their own professional printers, a decision that has propelled their businesses to new heights.
Video interviews with the artists will feature segments like "About the Artist," covering their printing history and preferences; "The Perfect Print," showcasing their image preparation process; and "About the Image," discussing the story and inspiration behind their artwork.
This month we continue our series featuring photographic retouch artist Cheri Hammon. Join us as we explore how she honed her skills and embraced the art of printing her own artwork. Through dedication and innovation, she has found success in her photography and has also become adept at producing stunning prints, marking a significant milestone in her creative evolution. Get ready to be inspired by her story of growth, resilience, and triumph in the dynamic world of photography, printing, and retouching!
Cheri’s Preferred Printing Solutions:
Elements Black Opal OBA-Free Matte Canvas
Sunset Cold Press Textured Bright White 300g
To learn more about any of the LexJet products mentioned, please contact a Customer Specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.
About the Artist
Cheri began her career in 1986 as a photographic retouch artist at Fitz-Symms Photographers in Augusta, Georgia. She did negative and print retouching, hand tinting, as well as artwork for copy and restoration of old photographs. She's done retouching and artwork for many of the finest portrait photographers in the country. Since 1999, Cheri has offered commissioned paintings in Corel Painter and fine art printing to Professional Photographers worldwide.
Cheri is a member of Professional Photographers of America (PPA). She is a CPP and has been awarded all four degrees, Master Photographer, Master Artist, Craftsman, and MEI. She was awarded the Georgia Fellowship Degree from the Georgia Professional Photographers Association (GPPA) and was named Georgia Professional Photographers Association’s “2006 Photographer of the Year”. She is currently a member of the Professional Photographers of Idaho where she was named 2013 and 2014 Master Photographer of the Year. She has also received the Idaho Fellowship Degree, and the American Society of Photographers Fellowship Degree at the IUSA convention in 2018.
Cheri’s fine art paintings begin only as a digital photograph, then they are painted by hand, stroke by stroke using Corel Painter, tablet and stylus, and then printed as pigmented ink on fine art paper or canvas giclee. Her photographs and paintings have won numerous awards and have been published in the PPA Showcase and Loan Collection books, and recently in the Painter Showcase book. In 2013 she was awarded the “Canon Par Excellence Award” at the Western States District Print Competition.